The Comedy of Errors on tap for March 2

Elizabeth Stahlmann (Luciana), Elizabeth Grullon (Courtesan), Jamie Smithson (Pinch), Jason McDowell-Green (Antipholus of Ephesus) and Stephen Pilkington (Dromio of Ephesus) in William ShakespeareÕs THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, directed by Ian Belknap. Set design by Neil Patel, costume design by Candice Donnelly, lighting design by Michael Chybowski. Produced by The Acting Company, in association with the Guthrie Theater. January 8 Ð 30, 2011 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. National tour February 1 Ð April 17, 2011.

Jason McDowell-Green (Antipholus of Ephesus) and Stephen Pilkington (Dromio of Ephesus) in William ShakespeareÕs THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, directed by Ian Belknap. Set design by Neil Patel, costume design by Candice Donnelly, lighting design by Michael Chybowski. Produced by The Acting Company, in association with the Guthrie Theater. January 8 Ð 30, 2011 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. National tour February 1 Ð April 17, 2011.

He may not be the hot ticket on Broadway, but Shakespeare is still lighting up marquees around the world. Nearly 400 years after his death, his plays continue to be performed more often than those of any other playwright in theater history.

The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is bringing the Bard of Avon to the stage of the Elizabeth Wallace Theatre. “The Comedy of Errors,” Shakespeare’s shortest and most farcical play, will be presented March 2 by The Acting Company, winner of a Tony Award for Excellence in Theater.

“It’s an entertaining night of theater and a great way to reintroduce yourself to Shakespeare,” said William Sturdivant, one of the 13 actors starring in the touring production. “Despite the complexity of the language, it’s a play that is easily digested by modern audiences.”

The play tells the story of two sets of identical twins tragically separated at birth and then unknowingly reunited in the same town. The brothers, of course, are mistaken for each other, leading to a series of wild mishaps, wrongful beatings and accusations of infidelity, madness and demonic possession.

“Shakespeare uses every literary devise under the sun to create the humor, including puns, words with triple meanings and malapropisms,” said director Ian Belknap. “And there’s plenty of slapstick comedy, too.”

The victims of most of the physical humor are the Dromio brothers, identical twin slaves to the Antipholus twins. The fun begins when Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse set out to find their identical twins and end up in Ephesus unaware their brothers live in the town. Chaos ensues when the two are repeatedly mistaken for their brothers.

“I get locked out of my house, locked up in jail and tortured by a conjurer trying to drive out my demons,” said Sturdivant, who is playing Antipholus of Ephesus. “It’s a plot that we’re all very familiar with.”

Founded by the legendary John Houseman and current producing artistic director Margot Harley, The Acting Company has been touring classical productions for 39 seasons. Its roster of famous alumni include Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Jesse L. Martin of “Law & Order” and Rainn Wilson of “The Office.”

Tickets to “The Comedy of Errors” are $47 for adults, $33 for children 15 and younger, and may be purchased at the box office, online at www.artshhi.com or by phone with a credit card by calling 842-ARTS (2787).